Anice Kruger thanks Kenneth O’Conner who did the trip with her daughter Pippie’s specially-grown skin from OR Tambo Airport to the Garden City Clinic in Johannesburg in 16 minutes – and that in peak hour traffic! (Cornél van Heerden, Beeld)
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Johannesburg - The operation at the Garden City Clinic in Johannesburg to graft specially-grown skin onto Pippie Kruger's back, face, chest, arms and legs, has ended.
The Lephalale toddler, who turned three last week, has been in hospital since New Year's Eve when she sustained third degree burns to 80% of her body at a braai.
Surgeon Ridwan Mia told Beeld that the operation had gone well. He said there would be scarring, but much less than a normal skin graft.
The most difficult part was behind Pippie's head, he said.
She will be sedated for seven days.
More than 40 pieces of cloned skin had been brought from the US, where it was grown, to be transplanted onto Pippie's body.
The skin, which has a 24-shelf-life, was flown in from Boston on an 18-hour flight. The medical courier delivering the precious cargo, Sonny Mysteri, was whisked off the plane and through customs in less than five minutes.
And, despite peak-hour traffic, the skin was at Garden City 16 minutes.
